Aggrieved members of MK Party in Ward 97, Far East of Mamelodi believe that their fellow member Sihle Majola has been arrested on trumped up charges and should therefore be released immediately.
To this effect several members of MK Party in Extension 11 (Ward 97) picketed at the Mamelodi East police station on Wednesday to demand that she be released.
According to the arrested woman’s son Nkosinomusa Gwebu (25), his mother Sihle Majola was arrested on Tuesday at around 12 noon regarding allegations of malicious damage to property.
“We already miss our mother, and we are also concerned about her safety, and I am of the opinion that her arrest is politically motivated, this as she clashed with the local Ward 97 Councillor Ananias Mogalusi and a person called Thabo Seoka,” said Gwebu.
“Before being arrested my mother and Councillor Mogalusi exchanged voice notes wherein they swore at each other and also threatened each other and thereafter two cops later came to arrest her on a charge of malicious damage to property, but this is surprising because the property that she is alleged to have damaged is still there and we even have photos to prove that” explained Gwebu.
“We will be behind her all the way when she appears in court tomorrow and I wish that she would be released and be given back the property that was taken from her by the Councillor,” he said.
Mamelodi East Police station commander Terrencee Naidoo confirmed that indeed Sihle Majola has been arrested and will appear in court on charges of malicious damage to property, defamation of character and that she is also a suspect in a case of intimidation.
Sihle Majola’s lawyer Advocate Stevens Maduwa also confirmed that Majola has been arrested and that she will appear in court on Thursday as the law requires that a person must appear in court 48 hours after being arrested and that they will make a bail application for her release.
He pointed out that the delay in charging Majola might have been caused by the fact that the police always take their time to make sure that they charge an accused person with appropriate charges.
Progressive Civics Congress regional chairperson Jack Simelani pointed out that the party is disappointed by the arrest of their member Sihle Majola and that it was worrisome to learn that Councillor Mogalusi is involved in this matter and is the one who opened charges against her even though he doesn’t stay in the shack that is being disputed.
“The whole thing has been handled unprofessionally by the police and it is clear that the Councillor has connections inside the Mamelodi East police station, “said Simelani as he thanked the national MK Party structures for having made a lawyer available to represent Majola.
It is alleged that Majola damaged a shack belonging to one of the community members and that person subsequently opened a case of malicious damage to property against her and the Councillor also opened a case of defamation of character against Majola, this as she swore at him and made allegations that Mogalusi is involved in criminal activities in the area regarding the allocation of stands in Ward 97.
“All people who are involved in criminal activities together with Councillor Mogalusi must be arrested and Mogalusi must step down as Councillor because each time anyone speaks against him, he makes sure that he would hurt that person,” said a lady resident who refused to be named.
“Sihle has been arrested for speaking the truth about the Councillorr’s criminal activities and we will be in court to support her all the way,” she said.
Sihle Majola was locked up at the Mamelodi East police station and will appear in the Mamelodi Magistrates Court in Mamelodi West on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Councillor Mogalusi denied allegations that he is involved in a scam to sell stands and also denied allegations that he has a tendency to intimidate the community.
“I urge anyone who has evidence against me to approach a court of law and I want to tell you that I know how to interact with the community as I have been trained by the ANC,” explained Mogalusi.
Mogalusi also denied allegations that he works together with local criminal gang Boko Haram and the police to intimidate the community and that he does as he wishes in the community.
“I am also a victim of Boko Haram activities after they beat me up at a mall in 2018 so how can I work with people who have injured me,”asked Mogalsui.
Mogalusi pointed out that the arrested Sihle Majola is a foreigner and not a citizen of this country and was in the first place not supposed to be given an RDP house.
“Sihle Majola tarnished my name and if she has evidence of wrong-doing or breaking the law by myself she must go through the correct channels, “said Mogalusi as he confirmed that he has indeed opened a case of defamation of character against Sihle Majola.